ES2302953T3 - IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLE SEATS OR RELATED TO THE SAME. - Google Patents

Abstract

An air-bag unit for a vehicle seat including a squab (2) and a back-rest (5). The back-rest (5) includes a frame which is covered with upholstery (7). An air-bag unit (22) has an inflatable air-bag (28) connected to an inflator (23) to inflate the air-bag 28. The air-bag unit 22 is mounted to the back-rest frame (6) so as to be located inboard of part of the frame (10) with the inflator (23) being located adjacent the rearmost region of the frame (6) and positioned to direct gas into the air-bag (28) in a generally forward direction. The arrangement is such that actuation of the air-bag unit (22) will cause the air-bag (28) to inflate so that at least part of the air-bag (28) lies between the frame (6) and the occupant (16) of the seat.

Description

Vehicle or related seat improvements with them.

The present invention relates to a seat of vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle seat provided with an inflatable cushion unit (air-bag).

As is well known, the seats of cars are usually provided with one or more inflatable cushions configured so that the inflatable cushion can be inflated in one accident situation with side impact, in order to provide side protection to the seat occupant. A typical well-known arrangement comprises a cushion module inflatable mounted on the back of a vehicle seat, being arranged the inflatable cushion module so that the cushion inflatable inflates forward with respect to the backrest, so that the inflatable cushion is deployed on the side of the occupant of the seat, so that the inflated cushion extends between the occupant and the panel, door or side window of the car.

The aforementioned type of vehicle seat and arrangement with "side inflatable cushion" may present certain disadvantages For example, in current cushion systems side inflatable of the general type described above, can there is often an important distance between the occupant of the seat and inflatable cushion during the initial stages of Inflatable cushion deployment. If this happens, it is possible then that the occupant of the seat, whose body moves with respect to the seat in the case of an accident with side impact, by virtue of its inertia, do not lean against the cushion that is inflating with the enough speed to prevent the occupant from suffering injuries.

It is also important that an inflatable cushion side mounted on the back of a vehicle seat is deployment so as not to cause injury to the person occupying the seat in abnormal position, such as p. ex. when the occupant leans on one side such that part of the occupant's body is is in front of the inflatable cushion and not on one side of said cushion. A conventional side inflatable cushion that inflates towards in front could cause injuries to the occupant of a vehicle sitting in that position.

The document US-A-5,803,485 describes a inflatable cushion device integrated in the seat back of a vehicle, which is adapted to be deployed as soon as inflates in the lateral space of the seat back.

The document US-A-5,765,863 describes a module of inflatable cushion, preferably mounted on the side of the backrest of a passenger seat.

EP 0 818 365 A1, which includes the characteristics mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, describes a vehicle seat provided with an inflatable cushion for side impact housed inside the seat back.

Document DE 197 30 148 A1 describes a side inflatable cushion device installed in a seat vehicle.

The present invention is intended to offer Both an improved vehicle seat.

Therefore, the present invention offers a vehicle seat comprising a cushion and a backrest, backrest comprising a frame covered with upholstery; and one inflatable cushion unit (air bag) comprising a inflatable cushion connected to an inflator device to inflate the cushion; The inflatable cushion unit is mounted on the frame of the backrest so that it is located inside part of the frame, the inflator device being positioned to direct the gas into the inflatable cushion, in one direction, so general forward, with respect to the backrest, so that the Drive of the inflatable cushion unit will make the cushion inflate so that at least part of it rests between the frame and a vehicle occupant; and where the inflatable cushion unit is mounted so that the inflator device is located near the most rear region of the frame, so that a length important of the inflatable cushion rest against the frame at Inflate the inflatable cushion.

Preferably, the inflatable cushion unit it comprises a cover into which it is initially packaged the inflatable cushion, the cover defining a break line configured to break when the inflatable cushion inflates, so that the cushion that is inflated leaves the cover with force; the cover is configured so that part of it is attached to the backrest frame when the inflatable cushion inflates in order to extend substantially forward of the frame and define a support against which the inflatable cushion rests when inflated.

Advantageously, said part of the cover is configured to engage the frame to also extend towards the inside of the frame.

Conveniently, said part of the cover It comprises a reinforcement rib.

Preferably, the inflatable cushion unit It comprises an inner inflatable cushion and an outer inflatable cushion, the inner inflatable cushion being arranged inside the cushion outdoor inflatable, and both inflatable cushions are connected to the inflator device so that they inflate at the same time to operate the inflatable cushion unit.

Advantageously, the outer inflatable cushion is greater than the inner inflatable cushion in the sense that it extends further forward with respect to the inflator device when fully inflated

Conveniently, the inner and outer inflatable cushions are initially arranged so that the inner cushion and at least part of the outer cushion are folded together practically in a zigzag along folded lines substantially parallel to the axis of the backrest extending away from the pad.
do.

Advantageously, the inner and inflatable cushions outside are initially arranged packed so that the inner cushion and at least part of the outer cushion are coiled together around a backrest shaft that extends from padding.

Preferably, part of the inflatable cushion exterior that extends beyond the front extension of the Inner inflatable cushion is initially spirally wound in around an axis almost parallel to the axis of the backrest that extends from the padding.

Conveniently, part of the inflatable cushion exterior that extends beyond the front extension of the Inner inflatable cushion is initially folded in zigzag following folding lines practically parallel to the axis of the backrest that extends from the padding.

Advantageously, the inflatable cushion unit It comprises a single inflatable cushion that has two inflatable chambers, the first of these cameras being located right next to the inflator device, and the second chamber is located forward of the first camera so that it is separated from the device inflator by the first chamber, the cushion being configured inflatable so that when the inflatable cushion unit is operated, the first cited camera is inflated almost entirely before that the second chamber begins to inflate substantially.

Conveniently, both cameras are separated by a tear seam set to break or tear when the first chamber is inflated to a pressure of predetermined gas in order to then allow the second camera

Preferably, the two cameras are separated by a seam that has one or more openings along its length to allow the passage of gas through them.

Advantageously, an orifice of exhaust on the inflatable cushion in the most advanced region of the second camera

Conveniently, the inflatable cushion unit It comprises a single inflatable cushion configured so that the region most advanced inflatable pad away from the inflator device is folded inward to define a part that returns to get in.

Preferably, the adjacent regions of the Re-entering part of the inflatable cushion are sewn initially together using a seam to define a seam tear set to tear or break when the inflatable cushion

Advantageously, the inflatable cushion is initially planned for packaging, being at least part of the inflatable cushion folded practically in zigzag following some folding lines almost parallel to the backrest axis (5) that extends from the padding.

Conveniently, the inflatable cushion is initially arranged packaged and at least part of the cushion inflatable is initially coiled around a shaft practically parallel to the axis of the backrest that extends from the padded

Preferably, the inflatable cushion unit It comprises an inner inflatable cushion and an outer inflatable cushion, the inner inflatable cushion is located inside the cushion outdoor inflatable and outdoor inflatable cushion is located between the inner inflatable cushion and the aforementioned part of the frame, being Inflatable cushions connected to the same inflator device.

Advantageously, the two inflatable cushions mentioned have dimensions such that the inflatable cushion interior extends a greater distance between said part of the frame and seat occupant than inflatable cushion Exterior.

Conveniently, the two inflatable cushions mentioned have dimensions such that the inflatable cushion exterior extends more with respect to the inflator device.

Preferably, the inflatable cushions inside and exterior are initially packaged, being folded together the inner cushion and at least part of the cushion outside, in zigzag following folded lines practically parallel to the axis of the backrest that extends from the padded

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Conveniently, indoor inflatable pads and outside are initially arranged packed, the inner cushion and at least part of the outer cushion rolled coiled together around an axis practically parallel to the axis of the backrest that extends from the padding.

Advantageously, part of the inflatable cushion exterior extending beyond the front of the cushion Inflatable interior is initially spirally wound around an axis almost parallel to the axis of the backrest that extends from the padding.

Preferably, part of the inflatable cushion exterior that extends beyond the front of the cushion inflatable interior is initially folded practically in zigzag following folding lines practically parallel to the axis of the backrest that extends from the padding.

To be able to understand this more easily invention and thus appreciate other characteristics of the same, some embodiments thereof are described below, by way of example, with reference to the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken at along line A-A in figure 1, which illustrates a side part of the seat back illustrated in the figure one.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the unit of inflatable cushion illustrated in figure 2.

Figure 4 is a corresponding view in general to figure 2, although it illustrates the disposition in one stage during which the inflatable cushion unit is operating.

Figure 5 is a corresponding view generally to figure 2, which illustrates a configuration alternative vehicle backrest upholstery seat.

Figure 6 is a schematic side view of a single inflatable cushion, subdivided according to a second embodiment of The present invention.

Figure 7 is a corresponding view generally to figure 4 but illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a corresponding view in general to figure 7, although it illustrates a fourth embodiment of the present invention

With reference, initially, to figures 1 and 2, a vehicle seat 1 according to this invention is illustrated. Saying seat has a cushion 2 comprising a frame 3 covered by upholstery 4. Extending up and slightly back of the back of the cushion 2 is located a backrest 5 comprising a backrest frame 6 covered with upholstery 7. The lower part of the backrest frame 6 is connected, so that it can pivot, at 8 with the rear of the cushion frame 3 so that it can be adjusted as known per se, the angle of inclination of the backrest 5 with respect to padding 2. Backrest 5 has a main shaft 9 extending from the padding.

The upholstery 4, 7 of the padding 2 and the backrest 5 usually comprise foam material coated with a fabric, plastic or leather wrap. The upholstery can also comprise springs, in a conventional manner.

As illustrated more clearly in Figure 2, the backrest frame 6 comprises a pair of metal crossbars with section in I 10, separated (in figure 2 only one is illustrated of these crossbars 10), each of which extends to the along a respective lateral region of the backrest 5 in order to rest almost parallel to the main axis 9 of the backrest. Each cross member 10 comprises a generally flat side plate 11 which carries a pair of small terminal projections 12, 13 in its front and back edges respectively. It should be noted that, yes either the illustrated embodiment comprises a crossbar with section in I, other configurations of crossbars, such as crossbars with a C-shaped section or L.

As illustrated more clearly in Figure 2, the upholstery 7 of the backrest 5 is wrapped around the frame 6 a in order to define a cushion 14 on both sides of the backrest 5 (in the Figure 2 only one of these cushions 14) is illustrated. Every cushion extends towards the front of the central region 15 of the backrest in order to stand next to the side of a occupant 16 sitting in seat 1, thus offering lateral support The cushion 14 illustrated in Figure 2 is the outer cushion 14 of the seat and therefore extends in part between the occupant of the seat 16 and the side of the car 17.

In the region of the outer cushion 14 illustrated in figure 2, there is a cavity 18 in the upholstery 7 of the backrest, within which the crossbar 10 is housed. In the most region forward of cavity 19, along the front of the cushion 14, a predefined break line 19 is provided in the upholstery, along which they consolidate each other, in a known way, of so that they can be released, the immediately adjacent regions of the upholstery 20, 21, using for example cloth hooks of Clasp type, such as those sold under the VELCRO brand. The line of rupture 19 of the arrangement illustrated in figure 2 is shown practically located in the center, along the front edge of the cushion 14. However, it will be appreciated that the break line 19 could be placed slightly inwards, in relation to this position, as illustrated in figure 5, in which it is seen that the break line 19 is located inside the cushion 14, closer to occupant 16.

Returning again to figure 2, it is arranged an inflatable cushion unit 22 inside the upholstery 7 of the backrest 5, which is mounted on the crossbar 10 inside the cavity 18. As illustrated in Figure 1, the inflatable cushion unit 22 is usually elongated and oriented so that it has a position almost parallel to the main axis 9 of the backrest 5 which extends from the padding 2.

As you can see more clearly in the Figure 3, representing an enlarged view of the cushion unit inflatable 22 and cross member 10, inflatable cushion unit 22 comprises an inflator device 23, such as a generator Of gas. The inflator device 23 is cylindrical in shape and elongated and is usually located in the center throughout of the inflatable cushion unit 22 (figure 1). The device inflator 23 takes hold on the inner side of the side plate 11 of the crossbar 10 using a mounting console 24. How can you see in fig. 3, the mounting console 24 is secured to the part more rear of the crossbar 10, just in front of the projection rear terminal 13, using a conventional arrangement of nut and bolt 25. From this point, the mounting console 24 is extends forward, along the inner surface of the plate 11 and then back in and back to define a curved region 26 that defines a concave notch within the which inflator device 23 is housed, the device being mounted inflator 23 in the curved region 26 of the mounting console 24 using another conventional nut and bolt arrangement 27. It may be possible see therefore that the inflator device 23 is located in the inside the crossbar 10 and, usually, next to the region more rear of the cross member 10 of the frame 6.

The inflatable cushion unit 22 also comprises a pair of inflatable cushions 28, 29, based on fabric, one of the which (28) is located inside the other (29), usually extending both forward from the inflator device 23 within the main part of the notch 18. The indoor and outdoor inflatable cushions 28, 29 are mounted between the curved region 26 of the mounting console 24 and a baffle screen 30 which usually has a cross section in C shape. Bolt 27 for mounting inflator device 23 on mounting console 24 passes through the baffle screen 30, inflatable pad 28 and outside inflatable pad 29, keeping all these components firmly attached to each other. The baffle screen 30 serves to protect the fabric from the cushions indoor and outdoor inflatables 28, 29 of the gas generated by the inflated device 23 under high pressure, in the event that operate the inflatable cushion unit.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the cushions indoor and outdoor inflatables 28, 29 are initially in packed position, for which a combination of zigzag folds and winding inside a protective cover or accommodation 31. The cover or housing 31 extends towards forward, from the general region of the gas generator 26, to end up in a position practically adjacent to the projection more advanced terminal 12 of the transom 10 and within it. This most advanced region of the housing 31 carries a rib of reinforcement 32 facing forward and outwardly which It has a cut notch, configured to receive the part innermost of the front terminal projection 12. The inner region of the cover or housing 31 is provided with a line for tear 32 set to tear in the event that the cushions 28, 29 inflate after operating the inflatable cushion unit 22

As stated before, inflatable cushions interior and exterior 28, 29 are initially packaged by a combination of zigzag folds and rolling. In particular, it you can see that the outer inflatable cushion 29 is larger than the inner inflatable cushion 28 in the sense that the inflatable cushion exterior 29 extends further forward of the inflator device 23, of what the inner inflatable cushion 28 does. You can see therefore the inner inflatable cushion 28 ends in a position indicated as 34, in the initially packaged state that illustrated in figure 3, although the outer inflatable cushion 29 is extends beyond the inflator device 23, from this point 34. The inner inflatable cushion 28 and the inflatable cushion region outer 29 extending above the inner inflatable cushion 28 fold together in zigzag following a plurality of lines of fold 35, each of which is practically parallel to the axis 9 of the backrest 5 extending from the padding 2. No However, the most advanced region of the outer inflatable cushion 29 which extends beyond the most advanced extension 34 of the inner inflatable cushion 28, is initially packaged by rolling it up spiraling around an axis practically parallel to axis 9 of the backrest 5 extending from the padding 2. It can be seen that the outer inflatable cushion 29 is wound so that its innermost turn 36 is located forward and slightly outward from the initial spiral turn 37.

Returning now to figure 4, the operation of the inflatable cushion unit 22 described above. Once the inflatable cushion unit 22, p. ex. when receives an ignition signal from an impact sensor indicative of an imminent or existing impact situation, it actuates the inflator device 23 which serves to expel gas at Inside the inner and outer inflatable pads initially packed, 28, 29. This causes the two cushions to inflate and deploy from the region of the inflator device 23 towards forward with respect to the backrest 5 of the seat.

When inflated, inflatable cushions 28, 29 break the cover or housing 31, along the break line predefined 32, leaving the deck or housing 31 with force. Then, the cushions that are inflating 28, 29 also come out to through the break line 19 of the cushion upholstery and separating regions 20, 21 from the upholstery located right next to it of the break line.

Figure 4 illustrates inflatable cushions interior and exterior 28, 29 during an earlier stage of their inflation operation after breakage of housing 31 and the tearing of the cushion upholstery. It will look in this figure that the cover or housing 31 is broken so that the most forward of the cover or housing 31 pivots through the notch 33 around the innermost part of the terminal projection front 12. However, the reinforcement rib 32 that carries the most advanced region of the deck or accommodation 31 serves to support the terminal projection 12 after a degree of rotation predetermined, in order to limit the degree of movement of cover pivot or housing 31 and therefore avoid that the most advanced part of the roof or housing 31 exceeds the position illustrated in figure 4, in which you can see that the front part of the roof or housing 31 broken, it extends forward of the cross member 10, although it also extends generally towards the inside of the cross member 10, in order to be generally oriented towards the seat occupant 16.

As the inner inflatable cushion 28 is more smaller than the outer inflatable pad 29, the inflatable pad more small 28 is fully swollen long before the cushion outdoor inflatable 29, when operating the inflatable cushion device 22. Figure 4 illustrates the inner inflatable cushion 28 which is becoming completely swollen, and you can see that in this deployment stage, both inflatable cushions 28, 29 have inflated so that the zigzag folds 31 are all deployed, although the terminal region has not yet been initially inflated rolled up outside inflatable cushion 29. Because the cushion indoor inflatable 28 quickly inflates completely, you can see that the inflatable cushion arrangement, even during a initial stage of its deployment, provides a remarkable width of inflated cushion and therefore causes the inner part 20 of the upholstery that initially defines the cushion 14, fits against occupant 16 in an early drive stage. In the arrangement of figure 5 in which the breaking line of the upholstery 19 is located further in, the amount of upholstery that has to be pushed towards occupant 16 is by minor assumption. In this embodiment, the inner inflatable cushion 28 It rests directly against the occupant of the seat.

The subsequent expulsion of gas from the inflator device 23 makes the coiled region more advanced of the outer inflatable cushion 29 unfolds forward and towards the occupant of the seat 16, internally, in order to provide a fully deployed inflatable cushion that extends almost entirely between the occupant 16 and the side of the car 17. Because the outer inflatable cushion 29 inflates in this way forward and inward, it serves to avoid or so less reduce the risk of injury to the seat occupant 16, who could be sitting for example in an abnormal situation, spreading part of the occupant's body above the cushion 14 of the backrest 5.

It should be noted that the internal situation of the inflatable cushion unit 22 with respect to the cross member 10 offers important advantages during the inflation of the inflatable cushions 28, 29. In particular, it can be seen that, because the inflatable device is located near the rear region of the crossbar 10, when the cushions 28, 29 are inflated, a significant length of inflatable cushion rests along the crossbar 10 and rests against the inner surface of the crossbar 10. This prevents the cushions being inflated from moving. towards the outside in this region and thus guarantees that the inflatable cushions are located sufficiently close to the occupant 16. The coupling of the rib 32 that has the cover 31 with the terminal projection 12 also contributes to this technical advantage, since it prevents the cover moves beyond the forward and inward position illustrated in figure 4. In this position, the cover also serves to push the inflatable cushions 28, 29 towards the seat occupant 16 when they are
inflating

Turning now to figure 6, it is illustrated by schematic form a single inflatable cushion 40 that can be used to replace the inner and outer inflatable cushions 28, 29 of the embodiment described above. The unique inflatable cushion 40 it is connected again with the inflated device 23, mounted on the cross member 10 of the backrest frame identically, in general, as described above. However, in order to offer Similar features of two-stage inflation available dual inflatable cushion described above with respect to Figures 1 to 5, the single inflatable cushion unit 40 is subdivided in a pair of separate inflatable chambers 41, 42. The camera more Rear of these inflatable chambers 41 is located right next to of the inflator device 23, and, due to this orientation is the first of the two chambers to receive the gas expelled by the inflator device 23 when operating the cushion device inflatable The second chamber 42 is located in front of the first chamber 41 with respect to the backrest 5, thus being separated from the  inflator device 23 by the first chamber 41.

The first and second cameras 41, 42 are separated from each other by a seam 43 that serves to strengthen the two adjacent layers of fabric that define the inflatable cushion 40. The Seam 43 can have one of two possible configurations. The First of these is an arrangement of tear seam, in the that seam 43 is specially configured to break or tear when the first chamber 41 is inflated at a pressure of predetermined gas, to thereby allow the gas produced through the inflator device 23 go to the second chamber 42, so that said second chamber 42 also inflates. It would agree so much that during the initial stages of cushion inflation inflatable 40, the first chamber 41 was separated from the second chamber 42, so that it is only the first chamber 41 that inflates However, when the gas pressure, within the first chamber 41, reaches a predetermined level at which the first chamber 41 to a sufficient degree to be coupled with seat occupant 16 (similar to cushion inflation inflatable interior 28 of the embodiment described above), the seam-tear 43 will break or tear, thus allowing the second chamber 42 to inflate forward and extend forward between the occupant of the seat 16 and the side of the car 17, generally thereof so that the outer inflatable cushion 29 of the described embodiment previously.

Instead of using the seam-tear of the type described above, the seam 43 may be provided with a permanent seam, which has a number of predefined gas outlet openings 44 formed along it. In such an arrangement, the openings for the gas outlet 44 are sized and separated from each other so that the first chamber 41 is almost completely inflated, before the second chamber 42. In any of the claims described with reference to FIG. 6, the second chamber 42 located forward is preferably provided with an exhaust port 45, which allows the gas inside the fully inflated cushion 40 to enter the atmosphere in the event that the inflatable cushion 40 is deformed by the impact of the body of an occupant of the seat 16. This allows the inflatable cushion 40 to exert an adequate damping effect reducing the chances of "bouncing" that could occur if the inflatable cushion did not have ventilation, and that would cause the body
the occupant of the seat 16 will bounce away from the fully inflated cushion, then causing injuries.

Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, as well as an arrangement comprising a single 50 inflatable cushion during inflation. The unique 50 inflatable cushion is initially arranged packaged inside the cover or accommodation 31, as described above, either by zigzag folds or rolling or a combination of both. Do not However, in this arrangement, the inflatable cushion is arranged initially in a state in which its most advanced region located far from the inflator device 23 is folded inwards of itself to define a re-incoming part 51. Preferably, the adjacent regions of the part re-inlet 51 of inflatable cushion 50 are sewn seams by means of seams 52 to define a seam tear, set to tear or break when inflated the inflatable cushion 50. Figure 7 illustrates this configuration of inflatable cushion 50 during inflation, at a stage in which the tear seam has been broken in this way. It will be seen that only seam 52 located closer to the inflator device 23 remains intact, while all other seams 52 have been torn when the cushion inflated. This provision is intended repeat the inflation characteristics of the provisions before cited, so that the cushion 50 inflates during the stages deployment initials in order to attach the upholstery to be initially formed on the inside of the cushion 14 with the seat occupant 16, before the inflatable cushion 50 inflates totally so that it extends entirely between the occupant of the seat 16 and the side of the car 17.

Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, which again uses two separate inflatable cushions, but  where the two inflatable cushions are arranged to be inflate one next to the other instead of one inside the other, as in the first description described above. In this arrangement, an inner inflatable cushion 60 and a cushion are connected outdoor inflatable 61 to the same inflator device 23 through a baffle screen 30 and the inflator device and the screen baffle mounted on the crossbar 10 in general identical to the one described above with respect to the first realization.

The inner inflatable cushion 60 is located for which is generally inflated between the outer inflatable cushion 61 and the seat occupant 16 while the outside inflatable cushion 61 It is positioned to inflate between the inner cushion 60 and the crossbar 10. The inner inflatable cushion 60 is sized so when fully inflated (as illustrated in general in figure 8) it has a width greater than that of the inflatable cushion outside 61, in the sense that the inner inflatable cushion 60 is extends transversely, between the crossbar 10 and the seat occupant 16, a distance greater than what the outdoor inflatable cushion 61. However, the outdoor inflatable cushion 61 is sized to extend forward beyond the inflator device 23 than the inner inflatable cushion 60, when The cushions are fully inflated. This cushion arrangement double inflatables therefore intends to repeat the characteristics of inflation mentioned above of the described embodiments above, in which the inner inflatable cushion 60 is inflated totally faster and therefore it mates with the seat occupant 16 at an earlier stage during the deployment, while the outdoor inflatable cushion 61 follows inflating then until reaching a fully deployed state in which extends along the side of the seat occupant 16, between the occupant of the seat 16 and the side of a car 17.

While the above described embodiments they use a zigzag fold or roll up to pack the inflatable cushions, it should be noted that other convenient packaging configurations.

In this specification, the term "understand" means "includes or consists of" and "that comprises "means" that includes or consists of ".

The characteristics described in the description above, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means to perform the described function, or a method or process to achieve the result described, as appropriate, can be used, for separated, or combining any of these characteristics, for the embodiment of the invention in its various forms.

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Bibliography cited in the description

This list of references cited by the applicant, is solely for the convenience of the reader. No way part of the European patent document. Although it has been put very careful to collect the references, they cannot be excluded errors or omissions and the EPO declines all responsibility to respect.

Patent documents cited in the description

US 5803485 A [0005]

EP 0818365 A1 [0007]

US 5765863 A [0006]

DE 19730148 A1 [0008]

Claims (25)

1. Vehicle seat (1) comprising a cushion (2) and a backrest (5), backrest (5) comprising a frame (6) covered with upholstery (7); and an inflatable cushion unit (air bag) (22) comprising an inflatable cushion (28, 29) connected to an inflator device (23) for inflating the cushion (28, 29); The inflatable cushion unit (22) is mounted on the backrest frame (6) so that it is located inside part of the frame (6), the inflator device (23) being positioned to direct the gas into the interior of the inflatable cushion (28, 29), in one direction, usually forward, relative to the backrest (5), characterized in that the actuation of the inflatable cushion unit (22) will cause the cushion (28, 29) to inflate to that at least part of the inflatable cushion (28, 29) rests between the frame (6) and a vehicle occupant; and where the inflatable cushion unit (22) is mounted so that the inflator device (23) is located near the rearmost region of the frame (6), so that an important length of the inflatable cushion (28) rests against the frame (6) when the inflatable cushion (28, 29) is inflated. 2. Vehicle seat (1) according to the claim 1, wherein the inflatable cushion unit (22) comprises a cover (31) into which the package is initially packaged inflatable cushion (28, 29), the cover (31) defining a line of rupture (32) set to break when the cushion inflates inflatable (28, 29), so that the cushion that is inflated (28, 29) comes out of cover hard (31); the cover (31) is configured so that part of it is attached to the frame of the backrest (6) when the inflatable cushion (28, 29) is inflated in order to extend substantially forward of the frame (6) and define a support (31) against which the inflatable cushion (28, 29) rests when inflated. 3. Vehicle seat (1) according to the claim 2, wherein said part of the cover (31) is configured to attach to the frame (6) to also extend into the frame (6). 4. Vehicle seat (1) according to the claim 2 or 3, wherein said part of the cover (31) it comprises a reinforcement rib (32). 5. Vehicle seat (1) according to any of The preceding claims, wherein the inflatable cushion unit (22) comprises an inner inflatable cushion (28) and an inflatable cushion outside (29), the inner inflatable cushion (28) being arranged inside the outer inflatable cushion (29), and both inflatable cushions (28, 29) are connected to the inflator device (23) so which inflate at the same time when the cushion unit is operated inflatable (22). 6. Vehicle seat (1) according to the claim 5, wherein the outer inflatable cushion (29) is greater than the inner inflatable cushion (28) in the sense that it extends further forward with respect to the inflator device (23) when fully inflated 7. Vehicle seat (1) according to the claim 5 or 6, wherein the inner inflatable cushions (28) and outer (29) are initially arranged so packed  that the inner cushion (28) and at least part of the outer cushion (29) they are folded together practically in zigzag following some fold lines substantially parallel to the backrest axis (5) extending away from the pad (2). A vehicle seat (1) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the inner (28) and outer (29) inflatable cushions are initially arranged packed so that the inner cushion (28) and at least part of the cushion Outer (29) are spirally wound together around an axis of the backrest (5) that extends from the padding
(2). 9. Vehicle seat (1) according to the claim 7, dependent on claim 6, wherein part of the outer inflatable cushion (29) that extends beyond the front extension of the inner inflatable cushion (28) is initially coiled around an axis practically parallel to the axis of the backrest (5) extending from the padded (2). 10. Vehicle seat (1) according to the claim 8, dependent on claim 6, wherein part of the outer inflatable cushion (29) that extends beyond the front extension of the inner inflatable cushion (28) is initially folded in zigzag following folded lines practically parallel to the backrest axis (5) that extends from the padding (2). A vehicle seat (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inflatable cushion unit (22) comprises a single inflatable cushion (40) having two inflatable chambers (41, 42), the vehicle being located first of these chambers (41) right next to the inflator device (23), and the second chamber (42) is located in front of the first chamber (41) so that it is separated from the inflator device (23) by the first chamber (41), the inflatable cushion (40) being configured so that when the inflatable cushion unit (22) is operated, the first cited chamber (41) inflates practically in its entirety before the second chamber (42) begins to substantially inflate
mind. 12. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 11, wherein the two chambers (41, 42) are separated by a tear-off seam (43) configured to break or tear when the first chamber (41) is inflated to a predetermined gas pressure in order to then allow that the second chamber is inflated (42). 13. Vehicle seat (1) according to the claim 11, wherein the two chambers (41, 42) are separated by a seam (43) having one or more openings (44) to along its length to allow the passage of gas through the same. 14. Vehicle seat (1) according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein a hole is disposed exhaust (45) on the inflatable cushion (40) in the region more forward of the second chamber (42). 15. Vehicle seat (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inflatable cushion unit (22) comprises a single inflatable cushion (50) configured so that the most advanced region of the inflatable cushion (50) away from the inflator device (23) is folded inward to define a part that re-enters (51). 16. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 15, wherein the adjacent regions of the part re-inlet (51) of the inflatable cushion (50) are initially sewn together by a seam (52) to define a tear seam set to tear or tear at Inflate the inflatable cushion (50). 17. Vehicle seat (1) according to any of claims 11 to 15, wherein the inflatable cushion (50) is initially planned for packaging, being at least part of the inflatable cushion (50) practically folded in zigzag following some folding lines almost parallel to the backrest axis (5) which extends from the padding (2). 18. Vehicle seat (1) according to any of claims 9 to 15, wherein the inflatable cushion (50) is initially arranged packaged and at least part of the cushion inflatable (50) is initially spirally wound around a axis almost parallel to the axis of the backrest (5) that extends from the padding (2). 19. Vehicle seat (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inflatable cushion unit (22) comprises an inner inflatable cushion (60) and an inflatable cushion outside (61), the inner inflatable cushion (60) being located in The inside of the outer inflatable cushion and the inflatable cushion exterior is located between the inner inflatable cushion and the cited part of the frame (6), the inflatable cushions being connected to the same inflator device (22). 20. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 19, wherein the two inflatable cushions mentioned (60, 61) have dimensions such that the inflatable cushion interior (60) extends a greater distance between said part of the  frame (6) and the seat occupant than the inflatable cushion exterior (61). 21. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the two inflatable cushions (60, 61) have dimensions such that the outer inflatable cushion (61) extends more with respect to the inflator device (21) than the outdoor inflatable cushion (60) when the two inflatable cushions (60, 61) are fully inflated. 22. Vehicle seat (1) according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the inflatable cushions interior (60) and exterior (61) are initially planned packed, the inner cushion (60) being folded together and at least part of the outer cushion (61), zigzag following some folding lines almost parallel to the backrest axis (5) which extends from the padding (2). 23. Vehicle seat (1) according to any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the inflatable cushions interior (60) and exterior (61) are initially arranged packed, with the inner cushion (60) and at least part of the outer cushion (61) spirally wound together around a axis almost parallel to the axis of the backrest (5) that extends from the padding (2). 24. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 22, which depends on claim 21, wherein part of the outer inflatable cushion (61) that extends beyond the front part of the inner inflatable cushion (60) is initially coiled around an axis practically parallel to the axis of the backrest (5) extending from the padded (2). 25. Vehicle seat (1) according to claim 23, which depends on claim 21, wherein part of the outer inflatable cushion (61) that extends beyond the front part of the inner inflatable cushion (60) is initially folded practically in zigzag following a few lines folding almost parallel to the axis of the backrest (5) that extends from the padding (2).